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Secretary of State John Kerry said Americans have the “right to be stupid” in a speech given to a group of German students on Feb. 1 as part of his first official international tour since being installed into office. The topic of his speech has since graced the headlines of international newspapers.Crystal Bates, a senior studying anthropology from Utah, thought the commentary around Kerry’s speech was far too negative. “I think that the media took his words too far out of context,” she said, “but that he also should have thought twice about how he was getting his point across. He could have been more tactful with his delivery.” While people have since criticized him for that particular terminology, Kerry’s overall message was one in defense of the Civil Liberties American’s enjoy under the protection of the first amendment. According to his speech, as documented by Reuters, he said:“People have sometimes wondered about why our Supreme Court allows one group or another to march in a parade even though it's the most provocative thing in the world and they carry signs that are an insult to one group or another. The reason is, that's freedom, freedom of speech. In America you have a right to be stupid — if you want to be.”Ezra Subandriyo, a senior in information systems from Indonesia, said, “People have the right to share their thoughts, but I wished they would think it through deeply before they say it to public. I believe what you say represents what you think and the more nonsense stuff you say, people will know how nonsensical you really are.”The State Department is the organization within the U.S. government that determines American foreign policy. The Secretary of State’s position according to the government State Department page, is to serve as the “President’s chief foreign affairs adviser.” When asked overall how Bates thought this was going to affect Kerry’s international image as Secretary of State, she replied, “I think they’re going to and already have made him into a clown. It is just another reason to laugh at the United States and its leaders.”

As most BYU-Hawaii students do not have TVs or cable in their homes, students turning to Netflix, an on-demand media service provided through the Internet, for their entertainment. Movies are a main attraction to Netflix, but most students said television series are what they watch most. Hunter Barrett, a freshman from Arizona majoring in graphic design, explained, “My husband and I mostly watch TV shows and skip over the movies.” After surveying a group of Netflix-watching students, here are the top five picks: 1. Breaking Bad. After being diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer, a high school teacher attempts to secure his family’s financial future by manufacturing and selling illegal drugs—methamphetamines. “I’ve never watched TV shows religiously but my friends would watch ‘Breaking Bad’ every Sunday night so that’s when I got into it,” says Aaron Coffey, a senior in ICS from Georgia. “With these shows like ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘The Walking Dead,’ they do so many plot twists and catches that at the end of the episode, they leave you at the most inappropriate time with a cliffhanger that you have to watch the next episode.” 2. The Walking Dead. In the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse, a small band of humans fight to survive fighting, the undead and each other. Victoria Jaques, a junior from England majoring in English, said why she watches the show. “I watched the first episode for an ICS class, and I really liked the plot twists. It is really well written, plus it has zombies and Andrew Lincoln.”3. The Office. The popular sitcom mockumentary, “The Office,” depicts the inner workings of a small paper company, Dunder Mifflin, and the quirky characters who work there. English Instructor Stephanie Robertson, said, “When my husband and I go to bed at night and one of us has a hard time sleeping, we watch old episodes of ‘The Office’ as we fall asleep. It’s kind of like my way of counting sheep.” 4. White Collar. A charming con man convinces the FBI to let him out of jail in exchange for his help in catching white collar criminals. “If you don’t watch ‘White Collar,’ then you’re not watching the best show on TV,” said Adam Christensen, a senior from Hawaii majoring in Finance and Accounting. 5. Documentaries. Senior James Astle, a graphic design major from California, shared his feelings on why he watches documentaries; “Documentaries are so much more interesting than regular movies because I can walk away with something I can use in the world around me [rather] than the world of the screen.”

Over the years, the North Shore of Oahu has seen dramatic changes as the popularity and culture of the sport of surfing has grown by leaps and bounds. BYU-Hawaii Professor and surfer Isaiah Walker acknowledges in his book, “Waves of Resistance: Surfing and History in Twentieth-Century Hawaii,” that the origin of surfing is deeply rooted in Hawaiian culture. The recreational activity that has become a major sport today was created and practiced by ancient Hawaiian kings and chiefs. Later in the 18th century, Calvinist missionaries banned surfing until the early 20th Century when it was reintroduced, said Walker. As the American and Hawaiian cultures combined, Hawaiians began to teach the “haoles” how to surf. From this point on, Hawaiians and “haoles” have shared the water, although it has not always been without conflict. David Linhares, a Brazilian native who moved to the North Shore to pursue his dream of surfing 12 years ago, believes the violence once associated with surfing is no longer a problem. “Now, the problem in the water is all the tourist that come out and rent boards. They cause problems because they don't know what they are doing.”Another noticeable change in the North Shore, according to Linhares, is the increase in corporate sponsorships and its affects on the surfing industry. Carlos Mozo, a popular North Shore photographer living in Hauula, said he has noticed a big change in the surfing industry. “It used to be that guys just had natural talent and the companies or sponsors would help them improve. But now, parents are pushing their kids to be the best,” said MozoA major contributor to the rapid development of surfing on the North Shore is the media and photography, according to Linhares and Mozo. “Now days, everyone is taking pictures and shooting video.” The increased exposure of surfers in and out of the water makes people want to do their best all the time. “I think that has helped push the sport,” Mozo said.The sport of surfing has also gained popularity from Hollywood movies such as “Blue Crush” or the surf classic, “Endless Summer,” which has contributed to the popularity for the islands. Linhares said he believes movies attract people to Hawaii. While surf movies glorify the sport of surfing, people are also attracted to the culture associated with surfing and the islands, not just the sport itself. Linhares said he has not seen much change in the culture of the North Shore since he has lived here, and he believes that the younger generations can still connect with the guys that have been surfing for 50 years.In Walker’s book, he explains the cultural influence that surfing had on the community. “Surfing was more than just a competitive sport; it was a cultural practice embedded within the social, political and religious fabric of Hawaiian culture,” he says. The North Shore is evidence of this cultural infusion, as people still have surfing embedded into their lives just like the ancient Hawaiians.Lisa Tuttle, a former competitive surfer majoring in exercise sports science from Torrance, Calif., agreed surfing can become embedded into your life. “I love surfing. If I am ever having a bad day, surfing can change it into a good day. I love it so much. I try to surf every chance I get,” Tuttle said.

Stars of the Hollywood film industry put their fashionable foot forward as they walked the red carpet towards the Dolby Theatre on Feb. 24 for the 85th annual Academy Awards. Before they could claim their prestigious awards, they were propositioned, commended, and sometimes even persecuted on the red carpet for their various fashion statements. For some, the red-carpet preview is the highlight of the Oscars experience. “I love watching all of the beautiful actors and actresses dressed in their finest walking the red carpet,” said Elizabeth Champney, a senior in communications from Illinois. Observing the glamour of the red carpet is almost as popular as the films themselves. “While I don’t usually watch the Oscars, I always make a point of looking at the best dressed the week after, as well as who won the awards,” said Jess Giles, a senior in TESOL from California. Like Joan Rivers, students who watched the awards were debating between the best and worst dressed. “My favorite of the night was Jennifer Anniston,” commented Daryl Lee, a sophomore in graphic design from Arizona. “She looks absolutely incredible for her age, and her red dress really popped out against the sea of classic black dresses and suits.” Champney said, “Adele, in my opinion, was one of the best dressed there. I love when bigger girls just let their radiance shine and throw their confidence behind what they are wearing, despite our culture’s persecution of bigger people in Hollywood. And that’s exactly what happened tonight. Adele just absolutely owned what she was wearing and it paid off.” Setting a new record at the Oscars this year for the youngest nominee in the Academy’s history was 9-year-old upcoming star, Quvenzhane Wallis, who was nominated for her role in the film “Beasts of the Southern Wild.” Quvenzhane attended the show with her mother, aunt, and tiny dog that she carried in her puppy purse. “Quvenzhane was so adorable. You could just feel her excitement,” shared Lisa Thompson, a senior in psychology from Texas. “While there were definitely other stunning actors and actresses there, I loved Quvenzhane’s outfit and matching puppy purse the most. She made the ceremony seem complete.” Students were skeptical about the importance placed on the artists’ look rather than on their work. “These award shows are an interesting mix between high and low culture. They are low in the sense that everyone is overly obsessed with the aesthetic appeal of these stars, but also a high culture ideal with these artists that takes great skill and talent,” shared Aaron Coffey, a junior in communications from Georgia. “The media circus around their outfits does seem to cheapen the whole thing overall. It’s like a 4H (youth agricultural competition) fair but with people.”

Beyonce and Jay Z are proving that marriage and business can work together as they announced their headline tour for this summer. The power-couple’s “On the Run” tour will begin June 25th in Miami and end August 5th in San Francisco. The six-week tour will include 16 shows, with stops in Atlanta, Philadelphia, Toronto, New Orleans, Dallas, Seattle, and Los Angeles. The couple was first thought to be touring together after a rumor in early April, but the official announcement was a surprise. The couple announced their tour through social media, revealing a picture of the two in ski masks, reminiscent of their most recent collaboration “03 Bonnie and Clyde.” This will be the first time that Beyonce and Jay Z have toured together. Since the couple’s secret marriage in 2008, they have dominated the music industry. Combined, they have sold nearly 200 million records, have won 36 Grammys, and have a net worth of around $850 million. Beyonce and Jay Z most recently collaborated on the chart-topping song, “Drunk in Love.”The couple is aware of their influence, and is joining forces to give back while on tour. A dollar from each ticket sold will benefit the Shawn Carter Foundation, an organization that helps underprivileged students go to college. The “On the Run” tour will also promote Beyonce’s #BeyGOOD campaign, which aims to inspire charitable work, kindness, and community involvement. In an interview with the Prince’s Trust Organization, Beyonce said, “As a young child I was blessed to have the support of my family who encouraged me to reach for my goals. So many young people don’t have this. I am honored to partner the #BeyGOOD campaign to help young people beat the odds and create better lives for themselves.” Brothers Laurent and Larry Bourgeois, two of Beyonce’s back up dancers, voiced their excitement for the upcoming tour in an interview with the Huffington Post. "The last tour... it was a flawless tour," says Larry. "It was a new full album... it was just a lot of work," adds Laurent. When talking about Beyonce, the brothers said, "She doesn't know how to sleep. She's like us. Nobody knows behind-the-scenes." Larry added, "The thing you don't know about, is that Jay Z knows how to dance. He feels the music." Although the couple is not coming to Hawaii on their tour, students at BYUH still have their opinions about Beyonce and Jay Z. Haydin Meeks, an undeclared sophomore from Arizona said, “If my husband and I were both singers, why not go on tour together? I think it’s super cool that Beyonce and Jay Z are doing this.” Ivy Wade, a sophomore in International Cultural Studies from Indiana added, “I don’t care too much about it because it doesn’t impact my life at all. But, I’m sure they would throw a sick concert together! They’re a huge power couple in the music industry.” Tickets for the tour are 44 percent more expensive than the couple’s previous individual tours, with the average ticket costing $342.67, according to Forbes. General tickets went on sale on May 2nd.